Tiger Woods began his battle with the devilish No. 2 Pinehurst on Friday afternoon as he launched yet another far-fetched quest to turn the weekend into a major championship.
The 48-year-old teed off alongside Matt Fitzpatrick, 29, the 2022 US Open champion, and Will Zalatoris, 27, at 1:14 p.m. ET, nine shots behind leaders Rory McIlroy and Patrick Cantlay.
The fifteen-time Major winner had opened his first round with a coveted birdie on Thursday, but things went downhill from there as Pinehurst bared his teeth. Woods fell victim to the brutal setup when six bogeys over the arduous 18 holes left him with a four-over 74.
After making the cut and finishing last at Augusta, Woods missed the cut at the PGA Championship in May and will be desperate to avoid a repeat in North Carolina as he began his battle to finish to the right of the cut line.
And he started his destiny in the right direction. After staying even par through the first three holes, he turned his approach to the fourth green to within 15 feet of the hole before sinking the birdie putt.
Tiger Woods began his battle to make the cut at the US Open at Pinehurst on Friday
But the treacherous conditions allowed Pinehurst to get the ball back on the fifth, with Woods immediately returning a shot on the par-five.
He continued to flirt with the expected cut-line of four-over as he closed his front nine with bogey-four on the ninth, entering the turn for the tournament at five-over.
Woods’ opening round followed a now familiar pattern with the golf icon toiling around the course, but what followed was unusual. Instead of taking advantage of his early start time and resting his ailing body, Woods took to the court to fine-tune his game.
“I hope I don’t get too tight on the car ride back – I might get tight in the air conditioning,” Woods said after his round.
‘It can go so far here that it goes the other way, the wrong way. It’s just so hard to come back. This is a golf course that doesn’t give up many birdies… I thought I did the only thing I needed to do today, which was drive the ball well. I just didn’t capitalize it.’
Woods was optimistic about his chances when he arrived in North Carolina earlier this week.
“I feel like I have the strength to be able to do it,” he said. ‘It’s just a matter of doing it.
Woods deflected nine shots off leaders Rory McIlroy and Patrick Cantlay
His condition started in the right direction, birdieing the par-four fourth
The fifteen-time Major winner immediately returned a shot on the next to remain level for the day
‘This golf course is going to test every aspect of your game, especially mentally.
“We’ve been working on that and making sure I understand the game plan and be ready in two days. It’s like home. Hot and humid is what we deal with every day at home in Florida, so that’s nothing new.
“It just keeps me hydrated and the mental strain that the heat brings. It will happen to all of us, not just me. Everyone is going to be tested.
‘It’s going to be long rounds with the fall-offs and run-offs on the greens. The rounds will take a little longer in terms of time. If you’re in the heat for that long, it’s going to take a little bit of wear and tear.’